Course Syllabus

HIST 6350-001 WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL CHINA Summer 2011 TR 1:005:30 PM

Prof. J. Michael Farmer JO 5.612 972-883-6354 farmer@utdallas.edu Office Hours: Tues. and Thurs. 12:0012:45 PM or by appointment Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions: Graduate standing. Knowledge of Chinese language is not required. Course Description: This course will examine the history of women in China from the earliest times through the tenth century. In particular, we will look at the history of women in the three major intellectual/religious traditions of China: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes: It is the objective of this seminar that students will understand key issues in the history of women in China, work carefully with the primary documents related to these issues (in English translation), and see how scholars approach the historical problems of women in Chinese history. Then, students should be able to take the scholarly models (i.e., secondary scholarship reviewed in the seminar) and apply them to their own primary source based research paper topics.

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Required Textbooks and Materials: Baochang. Kathryn Ann Tsai, trans. Lives of the Nuns. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1994. [ISBN: 978-0824815417] Du Guangting. Suzanne Cahill, trans. Divine Traces of the Daoist Sisterhood: Records of the Assembled Transcendents of the Fortified Walled City. Three Pines Press, 2006. [ISBN: 978-1931483049] Raphals, Lisa. Sharing the Light. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998. [ISBN: 0791438562]. Swann, Nancy Lee. Pan Chao: Foremost Woman Scholar of China. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies, 2001. [ISBN 0892641509]. Tung, Jowen R. Fables for the Patriarchs: Gender Politics in Tang Discourse. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 2000. [ISBN 0847695131]. Wang Ping. Aching for Beauty: Footbinding in China. New York: Anchor Press, 2002. [ISBN: 0385721366]. Wang, Robin R. Images of Women in Chinese Thought and Culture. Indianapolis: Hackett, 2003. [ISBN 0872206513]. ADDITIONAL MATERIALS TO BE DISTRIBUTED VIA eLearning: Wineburg, Sam. Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts, On the Reading of Historical Texts Mazlish, The Art of Reviewing Guisso, Richard. Thunder Over the Lake. Sharma, Women in World Religions (selected chapters). OHara, Alfred. The Position of Women in Ancient China. Cutter, Robert Joe. The Death of Empress Zhen Farmer, J. Michael. The Three Chaste Ones of Ba Ko, Dorothy. From Ancient Texts to Current Customs: In Search of Footbindings Origins Recommended Readings: For students who have little background in the general history of premodern China, it is strongly recommended that you read the following suggested text: Ebrey, Patricia. Cambridge Illustrated History of China. 2nd ed, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. [ISBN: 0521124336.] This text offers a solid general framework of Chinese history, and I frequently use it in my other courses.

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Assignments & Academic Calendar: Anatomy of a Book Review: You are to analyze the structure of a published book review and evaluate the review on the basis of the principles outlined in Bruce Mazlishs article, The Art of Reviewing, available via eLearning. Details are available on Anatomy of a Book Review (in class and eLearning). [5%] Critical Book Review Essays: Each student will write a book review essay of approximately two to three (23) pages for the secondary source monographs indicated on the schedule below. The review essay should outline the approach, main points, etc. of each book, as well as your response to the work. Any questions you might have about a particular reading should also be included in this essay. You may wish to employ a Book Capture Form (eLearning) to organize your reading notes in preparation for writing your formal review and for class discussion. Review essays are due at the beginning of class on the day we discuss the book(s). They will be graded. No late reviews will be accepted. [25%] Source Essays: You will prepare four (4) short primary source analysis essays on various primary documents. Details are provided on Source Essay Guidelines (eLearning). Additionally, you will be asked to write additional in-class source analysis essays based on the PSA Guidelines (eLearning). [25%] Oral Presentations/Class Discussion: Assigned texts will be presented in class by a group of two or three students. This presentation should provide a general overview of the work, its subject, approach, and effectiveness. Comments on the strengths and weaknesses of a text are encouraged. After a brief (ten to fifteen minutes) presentation, the students giving the presentation will then lead the entire class in a detailed discussion of the text. [15%] Final Research Paper: In lieu of a final exam, each student will prepare a final essay using a set of primary source materials in English translation and appropriate secondary materials. Details on this assignment will be provided in class and via eLearning. [30%] I would encourage you to form study groups to discuss the readings in advance of inclass discussions; however, all written work must be done independently.

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Tentative Schedule: I will make every reasonable effort to follow this reading and discussion schedule, but sometimes changes must be made. Modification to this outline will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to be aware of the schedule and prepare the assigned materials. Date 7/5 Welcome Tu Historical Thinking Anatomy of a Book Review The Book Capture 7/7 Women in the Confucian Tradition: Th Women in the Canon Topic Readings/Assignments Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts, On the Reading of Historical Texts Mazlish, The Art of Book Reviewing Images, [Document #] 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15 Kelleher, Confucianism (in Women in World Religions) Guisso, Thunder Over the Lake * Source Essay 1 (PSA) Due (Images, Doc. 2)
[Follow PSA Guidelines for this assignment.]

7/12 Women in the Confucian Tradition: Tu Prescriptions for Women

OHara, The Position of Women in Ancient China * Source Essay 2 Due

[Follow Source Essay Guidelines for this assignment.]

7/14 Women in the Confucian Tradition: Th Prescriptions for Women

Raphals, Sharing the Light Swann, Ban Chao * Book Review 1 Due (Sharing the Light) Images, 40 Cutter, The Death of Empress Zhen Farmer, The Three Chaste Ones of Ba Tung, Fables for the Patriarchs * Book Review 2 Due (Fables for the Patriarchs)

7/19 Remembering Women Tu

7/21 Women in the Daoist Tradition Th

Images, 7, 14, 17, 19, 20, 44, 45 Reed, Taoism (in Women in World Religions) Du, Divine Traces of the Daoist Sisterhood * Source Essay 3 Due
[Follow Source Essay Guidelines for this assignment.]

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7/26 Women in the Buddhist Tradition Tu

Images, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 Barnes, Buddhism (in Women in World Religions) Baochang, Lives of the Nuns * Source Essay 4 Due
[Follow Source Essay Guidelines for this assignment.]

7/28 Neo-Confucianism and Bound Feet Th

Images, 41, 49 Ko, From Ancient Texts to Current Customs: In Search of Footbindings Origins Wang, Aching for Beauty * Book Review 3 Due (Aching for Beauty)

8/4 Final Exam Period Th

* Final Papers Due

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Grading Policy: Percentages for the course assignments have been noted above. The following gradescale will be used: 059 [F]; 6062 [D-]; 6366 [D]; 6769 [D+]; 7072 [C-]; 7376 [C]; 7779 [C+]; 8082 [B-]; 8386 [B]; 8789 [B+]; 9092 [A-]; 93100 [A]. In narrative form, [F]=failing; [D]=below average; [C]=average; [B]=above average; [A]=exceptional. The professor reserves the right to curve, round, or otherwise adjust grades at his sole discretion. Course & Instructor Policies: Attendance, Participation, and Discussion: Attendance is manditory! Please consult the university calendar before scheduling vacations, weddings, or other extra-curricular events that may keep you from your responsibilities in this class. You are responsible for the material and any assignments regardless of whether you were in a given class meeting or not. Any extended absence (two or more consecutive sessions) should be reported to me via email or phone as soon as possible. Every student is expected to actively participate in the discussion of the assigned readings. While there is no set percentage of the course grade dedicated to this requirement category, students who do not regularly attend and actively participate in class will not fare well in the course. Late work: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. Late work will not be accepted. For all work not completed by the due date, the student will receive a grade of 0 (zero) for the assignment. Exceptional circumstances may be taken into account. If you feel your circumstances merit special consideration, please notify me via phone, email, or in person as soon as possible. Written Assignments: All out-of-class written assignments must be typed, double-spaced, in a 1012 point serif typeface (Times, Palatino, Garamond, Gentium, etc.). Pages must have one-inch margins and contain your name and page number in the upper right-hand corner of each page. Assignments must be printed on white paper in black ink. Assignments not meeting these basic technical specifications will not be accepted! Submissions via email or other electronic means will not be accepted. Your Responsibility: Students are responsible for all information contained in this syllabus and schedule, as well as any amendments or changes announced by the professor or Teaching Assistant(s) in class. Changes to the course schedule or syllabus will also be announced in class and/or by email. It is your responsibility to regularly check your UTD email account. Technical Support: If you experience any problems with your UTD account you may send an email to: assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Helpdesk at 972 883-2911.

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Student Conduct & Discipline: The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD printed publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic year. The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and Regulations, Series 50000, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the universitys Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391) and online at http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/ UTDJudicialAffairs-HOPV.html A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct. Academic Integrity: The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic work. Scholastic Dishonesty, any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is subject to discipline. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the universitys policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course may use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective. Copyright Notice: The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials, including music and software. Copying, displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted works may infringe the copyright owners rights and such infringement is subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well as criminal penalties provided by federal law. Usage of such material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes fair use under the Copyright Act. As a UT Dallas student, you are required to follow the institutions copyright policy (Policy Memorandum 84-I.3-46). For more information about the fair use exemption, see http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/ copypol2.htm

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Email Use: The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a students U.T. Dallas email address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts. Email is the preferred method of communication for this course. I generally reply to messages that require a response (and not all messages require or merit a response from the professor!) within two business days. Messages left on my office voicemail will be retrieved the next time I am on campus, which depending on when the message was left, could be several business days. For queries necessitating a response, email is the best and fastest method of communication. Withdrawal from Class: The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the class once you are enrolled. Student Grievance Procedures: Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities, of the universitys Handbook of Operating Procedures. In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called the respondent). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the respondents School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Deans decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and regulations.

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Incomplete Grade Policy: As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at the semesters end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F. Disability Services: The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is: The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22 PO Box 830688 Richardson, Texas 75083-0688 (972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY) disabilityservice@utdallas.edu If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services. The Coordinator is available to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that you be registered with Disability Services to notify them of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. Disability Services can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations. It is the students responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours. Religious Holy Days: The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated. The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment. If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the

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legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief executive officer or designee. These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor. Mistaking the educational process for a consumer service where you "get your money's worth" is usually the path to disappointment. [revised 13 June 2011]